SJCPL Blog

Published August 26, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE POSTCARD KILLERS, by James Patterson and Liza Marklund. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) An N.Y.P.D. detective joins a Swedish reporter in a search for the killer of young couples in Europe, including his daugher and her boyfriend.

2. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

4. THE COBRA, by Frederick Forsyth. (Putnam, $26.95.) A former C.I.A. operative is unleashed on the cocaine industry.

5. STAR ISLAND, by Carl Hiaasen. (Knopf, $26.95.) A paparazzo attempting to kidnap a drug-addled pop star grabs her stunt double by mistake.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

2. COMMITTED, by Elizabeth Gilbert. (Viking, $26.95.) The author of Eat, Pray, Love wrestles with, and overcomes, her ambivalence about marriage.

3. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunity — from the author of Blink.

4. EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOON, by S. C. Gwynne. (Scribner, $27.50.) The story of Quanah Parker, the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.

5. THE OBAMA DIARIES, by Laura Ingraham. (Threshold Editions, $25.) A satirical fictional journal with commentary, by the conservative political commentator.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

3. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

4. TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) The further reflections of Nikki Maxwell on the agonies of middle school; a Dork Diaries book. (Ages 9 to 13)

5. LINGER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) The wereteens of “Shiver” face a new test of love and loyalty. (Ages 12 and up)

Published August 13, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

2. THE RED QUEEN, by Philippa Gregory. (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, $25.99.) More intrigue during the War of the Roses, centered on Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII; by the author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

4. STAR ISLAND, by Carl Hiaasen. (Knopf, $26.95.) A paparazzo attempting to kidnap a drug-addled pop star grabs her stunt double by mistake.

5. THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, by Daniel Silva. (Putnam, $26.95.) The art restorer and assassin Gabriel Allon discovers that there are deadly secrets behind a stolen painting.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

2. THE OBAMA DIARIES, by Laura Ingraham. (Threshold Editions, $25.) A satirical fictional journal with commentary, by the conservative political commentator.

3. ANGELINA, by Andrew Morton. (St. Martin’s, $26.99.) A biography of Angelina Jolie, actress and humanitarian.

4. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.merican soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

5. CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG, by Chelsea Handler. (Grand Central, $25.99.) More humorous personal essays.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

3. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

4. LINGER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) The wereteens of “Shiver” face a new test of love and loyalty. (Ages 12 and up)

5. HOT X, by Danica McKellar. (Hudson Street, $26.95.) A guide to conquering algebra. (Ages 14 and up)

Published August 6, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

2. STAR ISLAND, by Carl Hiaasen. (Knopf, $26.95.) A paparazzo attempting to kidnap a drug-addled pop star grabs her stunt double by mistake.

3. THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, by Daniel Silva. (Putnam, $26.95.) The art restorer and assassin Gabriel Allon discovers that there are deadly secrets behind a stolen painting.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. FLY AWAY HOME, by Jennifer Weiner. (Atria, $26.99.) A senator’s extramarital affair affects his wife and daughters.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

2. THE OBAMA DIARIES, by Laura Ingraham. (Threshold Editions, $25.) A satirical fictional journal with commentary, by the conservative political commentator.

3. CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG, by Chelsea Handler. (Grand Central, $25.99.) More humorous personal essays.

4. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.merican soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

5. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed, from the author of Blink.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

2. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

3. LINGER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) The wereteens of “Shiver” face a new test of love and loyalty. (Ages 12 and up)

4. TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) The further reflections of Nikki Maxwell on the agonies of middle school; a Dork Diaries book. (Ages 9 to 13)

5. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

Published July 30, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, by Daniel Silva. (Putnam, $26.95.) The art restorer and assassin Gabriel Allon discovers that there are deadly secrets behind a stolen painting.

2. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

4. FLY AWAY HOME, by Jennifer Weiner. (Atria, $26.99.) A senator’s extramarital affair affects his wife and daughters.

5. PRIVATE, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) The head of an investigation company pursues the murderer of his best friend’s wife.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

2. THE OBAMA DIARIES, by Laura Ingraham. (Threshold Editions, $25.) A satirical fictional journal with commentary, by the conservative political commentator.

3. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.merican soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

4. MEDIUM RAW, by Anthony Bourdain. (Ecco/HarperCollins, $26.99.) Bourdain looks critically at changes in the food and restaurant cultures since the publication of his Kitchen Confidential 10 years ago.

5. SLIDING INTO HOME, by Kendra Wilkinson with Jon Warech. (Gallery, $26.) The life of the reality TV star and former Playboy cover model.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. LINGER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) The wereteens of “Shiver” face a new test of love and loyalty. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

3. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

4. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

5. THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) He’’s only 13, but he knows what to do when he encounters a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12)

Published July 23, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

2. FLY AWAY HOME, by Jennifer Weiner. (Atria, $26.99.) A senator’s extramarital affair affects his wife and daughters.

3. THE SEARCH, by Nora Roberts. (Putnam, $26.95.) The only survivor of a serial killer has found peace in the Pacific Northwest, but her life is shaken by the appearance of a new man and a copycat murderer.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. PRIVATE, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) The head of an investigation company pursues the murderer of his best friend’s wife.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. THE OBAMA DIARIES, by Laura Ingraham. (Threshold Editions, $25.) A satirical fictional journal with commentary, by the conservative political commentator.

2. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

3. MEDIUM RAW, by Anthony Bourdain. (Ecco/HarperCollins, $26.99.) Bourdain looks critically at changes in the food and restaurant cultures since the publication of his Kitchen Confidential 10 years ago

4. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.merican soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

5. WAR, by Sebastian Junger. (Twelve, $26.99.) The intense lives of American soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan, by the author of The Perfect Storm.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. LINGER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) The wereteens of “Shiver” face a new test of love and loyalty. (Ages 12 and up)

2. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

3. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

4. TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) The further reflections of Nikki Maxwell on the social agonies of middle school; a Dork Diaries book. (Ages 9 to 13)

5. THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) He’’s only 13, but he knows what to do when he encounters a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12)

Is it Sunday yet?

If you’re a fan of AMC’s Emmy-winning drama Mad Men, you don’t need a reason to watch the show’s Season 4 premiere this Sunday. (It’s been circled on my calendar for months!)

Set in the ’60s, Mad Men follows advertising executive Donald Draper (Jon Hamm) as he balances his job, his family and his private life, all of which are, in some ways, tightly wound together and, in other ways, distinctly separated. The drama follows Draper, as well as his family and co-workers, using the 1960s backdrop to tie in social and political issues that are relevant to the times. This show is  sophisticated in its storytelling and each hour unfolds like a small movie.

The acting (from a mostly unknown cast), cinematography (you can just stare at this series) and especially the writing carry the series to exceptional heights.

Mad Men is one of the best character studies anyone has put on television in some time.

So, if you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend it!

Mad Men’s fourth season premieres Sunday, July 25, at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. C on AMC.

Published July 9, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. PRIVATE, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) The head of an investigation company pursues the murderer of his best friend’s wife.

2. SIZZLING SIXTEEN, by Janet Evanovich. (St.Martin’s, $27.99.) The bounty hunter Stephanie Plum comes to the aid of a cousin with gambling debts.

3. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

4. THE OVERTON WINDOW, by Glenn Beck. (Threshold Editions/Mercury Radio Arts, $26.) A public relations executive and the woman he loves expose a dangerous conspiracy.

5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

2. MEDIUM RAW, by Anthony Bourdain. (Ecco/HarperCollins, $26.99.) Bourdain looks critically at changes in the food and restaurant cultures since the publication of his Kitchen Confidential 10 years ago

3. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.merican soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

4. CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG, by Chelsea Handler. (Grand Central, $25.99.) More humorous personal essays from the comedian.

5. SPOKEN FROM THE HEART, by Laura Bush. (Scribner, $30.) A memoir from the former first lady.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

2. THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) He’’s only 13, but he knows what to do when he encounters a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12)

3. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

4. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

5. TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) The further reflections of Nikki Maxwell on the social agonies of middle school; a Dork Diaries book. (Ages 9 to 13)

Published June 11, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

2. BULLET, by Laurell K. Hamilton. (Berkley, $26.95.) Anita Blake, vampire hunter, is menaced by the Mother of All Darkness, who wants to take over her body.

3. THE SPY, by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. (Putnam, $27.95.) In 1908, a murder leads the detective Isaac Bell to investigate international spies who are trying to keep America from developing a fleet of dreadnought battleships.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. DEAD IN THE FAMILY, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace, $25.95.) Sookie Stackhouse is exhausted in the aftermath of a Fae war.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

2. WAR, by Sebastian Junger. (Twelve, $26.99.) The intense lives of A

3. SPOKEN FROM THE HEART, by Laura Bush. (Scribner, $30.) A memoir from the former first lady.

4. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.merican soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

5. CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG, by Chelsea Handler. (Grand Central, $25.99.) More humorous personal essays from the comedian.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

2. THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) He’’s only 13, but he knows what to do when he encounters a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12)

3. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

4. INFINITY (CHRONICLES OF NICK), by Sherrilyn Kenyon. (St. Martin’s Griffin, $17.99.) Zombies and werewolves and brain-eating demons complicate academic life. (Ages 12 and up)

5. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

Published June 4, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. (Knopf, $27.95.) The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

2. DEAD IN THE FAMILY, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace, $25.95.) Sookie Stackhouse is exhausted in the aftermath of a Fae war.

3. 61 HOURS, by Lee Child. (Delacorte, $28.) Jack Reacher helps the police in a small South Dakota town protect a witness in a drug trial.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. STORM PREY, by John Sandford. (Putnam, $27.95.) Lucas Davenport’s wife is a witness to a botched robbery and murder in the 20th novel in the “Prey” series.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SPOKEN FROM THE HEART, by Laura Bush. (Scribner, $30.) A memoir from the former first lady.

2. TO SAVE AMERICA, by Newt Gingrich with Joe DeSantis. (Regnery, $29.95.) Reversing President Obama‘s policies, by the former speaker of the House of ­Representatives.

3. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.

4. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern. (It Books/HarperCollins, $15.99.) A coming-of-age memoir organized around the musings, purveyed on Twitter, of the author’s father.

5. WAR, by Sebastian Junger. (Twelve, $26.99.) The intense lives of American soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) He’’s only 13, but he knows what to do when he encounters a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12)

2. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

3. INFINITY (CHRONICLES OF NICK), by Sherrilyn Kenyon. (St. Martin’s Griffin, $17.99.) Zombies and werewolves and brain-eating demons complicate academic life. (Ages 12 and up)

4. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

5. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

Published May 28, 2010. View the complete list from The New York Times.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. 61 HOURS, by Lee Child. (Delacorte, $28.) Jack Reacher helps the police in a small South Dakota town protect a witness in a drug trial.

2. STORM PREY, by John Sandford. (Putnam, $27.95.) Lucas Davenport’s wife is a witness to a botched robbery and murder in the 20th novel in the “Prey” series.

3. DEAD IN THE FAMILY, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace, $25.95.) Sookie Stackhouse is exhausted in the aftermath of a Fae war.

4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $24.95.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ­Mississippi.

5. INNOCENT, by Scott Turow. (Grand Central, $27.99.) When Rusty Sabich’s wife is found dead, Tommy Molto accuses him of murder for the second time, as Turow revisits the characters from “Presumed Innocent.”

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. SPOKEN FROM THE HEART, by Laura Bush. (Scribner, $30.) A memoir from the former first lady.

2. WAR, by Sebastian Junger. (Twelve, $26.99.) The intense lives of American soldiers in a lethal corner of Afghanistan.

3. THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $27.95.) The people who saw the real estate crash coming and made billions from their foresight.

4. THE PROMISE, by Jonathan Alter. (Simon & Schuster, $28.) A detailed look at President Obama’s decision-making process on issues like health care and the Afghanistan war offers a glimpse of what it’s like to work in his White House.

5. TO SAVE AMERICA, by Newt Gingrich with Joe DeSantis. (Regnery, $29.95.) How to reverse President Obama‘s policies, by the former speaker of the House of ­Representatives.

Children’s Chapter Books:

1. THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet in a new adventure. (Ages 10 and up)

2. THE CARRIE DIARIES, by Candace Bushnell. (Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins, $18.99.) Carrie Bradshaw, years before Sex and the City. (Ages 14 and up)

3. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)

4. CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of The Hunger Games returns. (Ages 12 and up)

5. BIG NATE: IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF, written and illustrated by Lincoln Peirce. (Harper/HarperCollins, $12.99.) Wherever Nate may go, trouble is never far behind. (Ages 8 to 12)